Archdiocese of
Archdiocesan Pastoral Council
April 3, 2004
The
Present: Archbishop John Vlazny, Fr. Dennis O’Donovan, and Members: Clint Bentz, Jesus Bojorges, Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, Thom Faller, B.J. Finleybranch, Michelle Forster, Sr. Ruth Frank, Fr. Don Gutmann, Bruce Heldt, Eloisa Hernandez, Ray Houghton, Bob Lowry, F.J. Maloney, Francisco Peńa, Diane Peterson, Pat Ridenour, Fr. Dick Rossman, Mike Scott, and Deacon An Vu
Staff Present: Fr. Chuck Lienert, Todd Cooper
Not Present: Mother Francine Cardew (E), Rick Nelson (E)
The thirteenth meeting of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (APC) was called to order at 10:05am by Bob Lowry. Ray Houghton led the opening prayer.
The agenda was reviewed and approved.
The minutes from the January 31, 2004 meeting of the APC
were approved with a clarification about the parish assessment: An increase in
the Parish Assessment is being phased-in.
Prior to the planned increase, the parish assessment was a total of 7%
(5% plus an additional 2% for the priest retirement fund). It was increased to a total of 8% this fiscal
year (with no monies collected for the priest retirement fund). Next fiscal year, the assessment will
increase to a total of 9% (8% plus 1% for the priest retirement fund). Finally, in the fiscal year 2005/2006, the
assessment of parishes will increase to a total of 10% per year (8% plus 2% for
the priest retirement fund). By way of
comparison, other dioceses currently have similar assessment rates (e.g.
The archbishop thanked the council members for their presence and their commitment to serve.
Six Rites of Election were celebrated this year, including three at the Cathedral. It is a joy to see so many people coming into the Church, especially during difficult times.
Upcoming Events
All are invited to the Mass of the Blessing of Oils at the Cathedral on Monday, April 5th. This is one of the most beautiful liturgies of the year and many of the priests concelebrate. Adult confirmation will take place on May 4th at the Cathedral. Mission 2004 is scheduled for June 6, 2004. Please come for the promulgation of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan.
USCCB Pastoral
Council Survey
The USCCB Committee on the Laity reported on a recent survey dealing with pastoral councils. 57% of dioceses responded to the survey. Of these, more than half have diocesan pastoral councils. Where such councils are active, bishops are very involved in their work. All bishops who have councils considered them very helpful as consultative bodies. 39% of councils focus on short-term pastoral issues. Two-thirds of bishops mandate parish pastoral councils in their dioceses. The archbishop sees the APC as a long-term, visioning body. The APC will decide the goals and oversee the implementation of those goals. Regional vicariate meetings are part of the pastoral planning process. The archbishop’s expectation from the council is a recommendation of pastoral priorities and help with the development of a pastoral plan. The APC shares responsibility in encouraging a more universal vision of the Church. The APC can help the archbishop to be more effective as a bishop and in bringing Christ to the world.
The John Jay study on the scope and impact of the sexual abuse scandal on the Catholic Church released its results on February 27, 2004. Just prior to that, the archdiocese released its figures. $53 million has already been expended, with fifty more cases yet to be resolved. Four trials are scheduled for July 6th. 130 cases have already been settled. The archdiocese has done everything it can to make the Church safer for children.
Pastoral
Assignments
Pastoral assignments are coming. Three priests are retiring. Two men are being ordained on May 29th and Fr. Chuck is back. The diocese already has five lay pastoral administrators and may need to add another. Deacon ordinations will take place on May 9th and May 16th. There will be eight to ten new seminarians in the fall.
ACA
The Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal is going well. Even though the goal was increased, 91% of the goal has already been achieved. $300,000 more has been pledged at this time compared with last year. The archbishop is especially pleased that there are 2200 more donors.
HAPPY EASTER!
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
Bob Lowry explained the process for the meeting and that the goal for the council by the end of the day was to recommend three top pastoral priorities to the archbishop. Prior to today’s meeting, each council member was asked to reflect on the list of top pastoral priorities as identified by the APC at its previous meeting and to choose one priority that he or she felt was most important. The top six priorities identified by the council corresponded to the top six priorities identified at the Pastoral Assembly: Faith Formation at all Levels, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Vocations, Multicultural Ministry, Connecting with the Wider Community, and Family Life Ministry.
Faith Formation at
all Levels
Nine council members selected Faith Formation at all Levels as the most important priority. The following reasons were given:
I want to be fed; to be “put on fire” through evangelization – not adult ed., but heart fed through such things as missions and retreats.
Faith Formation at all Levels is the foundation of all the other priorities. Head and heart. The downside of this priority is that it is so big, but we can bring it down to a manageable level. Seamless – from cradle to grave.
We must get the heart burning and offer education primarily at the adult level. Youth and young adult ministry is already a strong office.
There is an emptiness amongst Catholics. Our faith is not developed. We don’t often know Jesus in a personal way. Especially in the Hispanic community, our faith is not formed, although we have strong devotion. We are afraid. We don’t know the scriptures while others do. We need catechesis and evangelization. Let’s not forget family life – it is the basis of our faith.
With Faith Formation at all Levels, a specific goal must be set. Head and heart. Catechesis, yes, but drawn to an encounter with Christ. Start with the Sunday Eucharist – who Jesus is, in and through the Eucharist. The companion sacrament of Reconciliation must not be forgotten. Mass comes from the word missio – being sent, evangelization. We must start with the source and summit of our faith. Begin there. Foster in people a sense that they are coming to meet their Lord.
Tough to choose only one priority, but in the end it is Faith Formation at all Levels. We’ve become disconnected as Catholics. We’ve lost our way in knowledge of scripture, in family, in faith conversation, and at mass. Connecting with the Wider Community and Youth & Young Adult Ministry are also important. Jesus taught us to reach out to others. I am troubled about our youth. We are not doing enough to keep them interested and motivated. Why? Parents and whole families will become involved when we minister to youth.
Faith Formation at all Levels seems most important because it can bring us to the center of the wheel, but it must be refined. How useful is it as a goal? We need a practical focus. All of the goals from the Pastoral Assembly fall under Faith Formation. Catholics today are hungry for their faith. We give to others the fruits of our contemplation. We can’t give what we don’t have. Youth & Young Adult Ministry is important and it falls under faith formation. Vocations are a high priority because the role of the Eucharist is fundamental to our Catholicism and we will have no sacraments without priests.
Faith Formation at All Levels is at the top, but not strictly academic. This goal must be tied to the Eucharist and Jesus Christ. If youth understood the richness of the Eucharist, how could they walk away? They need models, otherwise what will keep them? This will also help family. Media is important in reaching youth – it is an entrée. All must flow from faith formation.
Passing the faith from one generation to the next is the top priority. It is long term.
Youth and Young
Adult Ministry
Six council members selected Youth & Young Adult Ministry as the most important priority. The following reasons were given:
Youth & Young Adult Ministry. This is a critical time for them. They need a firm foundation when they are going to college or getting married.
Youth & Young Adult Ministry. We tend to lose them in high school. How can we keep them engaged? It is up to us to do this.
Youth & Young Adult Ministry edged Family Life as the top priority. Both scored strongly based on the Pastoral Assembly. It is a part of Faith Formation at all Levels, but more specifically, Youth & Young Adult Ministry and Family Life are equally strong. We stand to benefit most from Youth & Young Adult Ministry, however.
Youth & Young Adult Ministry is at the top. We’re losing them. Faith Formation at all Levels is also important.
This was an extremely tough decision. I chose Youth & Young Adult Ministry, but Family Life and Faith Formation are so important. Feeding the youth sets others on fire and keeps us moving forward. What does my parish have for my kids? That is going to draw me. Parents come to youth Masses, as do older people. This priority generates vocations.
From Youth & Young Adult Ministry comes Vocations, and faith without works is dead. Vocations, Youth & Young Adult Ministry, and Faith Formation are all in one. Works bring life.
Evangelization
Two council members selected Evangelization as the most important priority. The following reasons were given:
Evangelization! The Lord asked us to do it. It is the central mission of the Church. The Holy Father has asked us to do this. Evangelization is not about sharing
knowledge, but about sharing faith.
Faith Formation is important, but Evangelization helps with this. We should continue Disciples in
Evangelization is the most important priority. Kids are not drawn to programs, but to people. Catholicism is a way of life or a waste of time. We parents are not modeling our faith. Every saint has been touched by another saint. John Paul II speaks of the large numbers of baptized who have lost their faith. The work of faith is to bring all under Jesus’ lordship. We can’t lose the spirit of evangelization. Reaching outward is so important. It is a missionary Church. Living the faith must come from the heart. We must share Christ with others.
Multicultural
Ministry
One council member selected Multicultural Ministry as the most important priority: Multicultural Ministry is a huge need that is not going away. People of different cultures are here and they are not going anywhere.
Commentary
following Pastoral Priorities Discussion
We must develop a further sense of mission and ministry. We must bridge the disconnect between Church and work and between Church and life. We must take a living faith into the world.
The archbishop reminded the council that even though its objective is to identify specific pastoral priorities, the Church will not neglect the other pastoral elements which are so important to its life and ministry. He asked the council where it would want him to focus his ministry in the next three years. There are limited resources. How should they be used? Where should we focus?
Council
chair, Bob Lowry noted that the council has been sifting through these
questions over the past three years.
Through the Disciples in
The archbishop explained that in the coming year, his staff will not make dramatic changes based upon the identified priorities. The year will be used for planning about how best to implement the priorities during the following two years. The budget for this fiscal year, for example, is already in place. Any shifting of resources must take place next year.
Small Group
Discussions
Council members were divided into four small groups and given the opportunity to discuss the pastoral priorities. Each small group was charged with the task of reaching consensus on what it felt were the three top priorities. Small groups continued to meet through lunch.
LUNCH – 12:00 to 1:00pm.
Reports on Pastoral Priorities Discussions
Faith Formation at all Levels – Each of the four groups came to a consensus that this should be recommended as one of the top three priorities for the Archdiocese of Portland.
It should
be seamless at all levels. We need a
follow-up to Disciples in
Youth and Young Adult Ministry – All four groups also agreed that this should be one of the top three priorities.
Encouraging active involvement and maintaining ties with youth and young adults during “trips of discovery” is important. Ministries should be developed that compete with modern culture. A wide range of vocations should be developed. Enthusiasm should be fostered. Secular exposure should be countered. Work in families and in homes should be done to nourish youth. Parish youth ministry programs could be evaluated. Youth need help to develop an adult faith. Appeal to both head and heart. Forming/hiring quality youth ministers and developing rich programs such as “Theology on Tap”.
Multicultural Ministry – Three of the four groups felt that this should be one of the top three priorities for the diocese.
Developing multicultural leadership is important. Both language and cultural awareness should be raised. Integration of all the ethnic communities into one parish should be a goal. A two-way process of inculturation should take place. A spirit of welcome should be fostered. The focus should be on what we can become together.
Connecting with the Wider Community – One of the four small groups felt that this should be included in the top three priorities.
Social Justice is important. We need to meet people where they are at ideologically, physically, and geographically.
Consensus
After the reporting by each of the groups, the council reached a consensus that the top three pastoral priorities should be: Faith Formation at all Levels, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and Multicultural Ministry. The dot process was then used to identify what should be the key points of focus for each of the priorities.
Faith Formation at all Levels received a total of thirty-nine dots
Eucharist Centered – 15 dots
Foster a personal encounter with Christ & live the Catholic faith on a daily basis– 12 dots
Family focus – 4 dots
Becoming empowered to witness Jesus to the world– 4 dots
Bridging the gap between faith and life – 3 dots
Head & heart – 1 dot
Youth and Young Adult Ministry received a total of thirty-six dots
Help youth develop an adult faith – 10 dots
Quality youth ministers – 9 dots
Developing rich programs – 9 dots
Full, active participation – 2 dots
Countering modern culture – 2 dots
Youth & young adult ministry – 2 dots
Audit parish youth programs – 1 dot
Encourage mentoring – 1 dot
Multicultural Ministry received a total of twenty-two dots
What we can become together – 12 dots
Develop multicultural leadership – 9 dots
Integration of community – 1 dot
Formal Recommendation
As a body, the council felt confident that the Holy Spirit was present and influential in its deliberations. The Archdiocesan Pastoral Council then formally recommended the following top three priorities to Archbishop Vlazny:
1. Faith Formation at all Levels
2. Youth and Young Adult Ministry
3. Multicultural Ministry
Council chair, Bob Lowry noted that today’s work was the fruit of much labor and that all of the remote preparation for this day had been very helpful in coming to a consensus. He spoke of the need to develop a one-page explanation of each priority, complete with an explanation of the process used to determine the priorities. This will be the task of the executive committee.
Archbishop Vlazny thanked the council for its good work and
accepted its recommendations with the intention of promulgating a pastoral plan
based upon these recommendations at the upcoming Mission 2004 celebration on
June 6th at the
Annual Vicariate Meetings
The vicariate representatives were given aids to help them in arranging for and participating in the annual vicariate meetings. Sample agendas for the meetings were distributed, along with contact information for the vicars.
Election of New Chair and Vice Chair
Nominations were taken for the election of a new chair and vice chair. Clint Bentz, B. J. Finleybranch, F. J. Maloney, and Diane Peterson were nominated. After two votes, F. J. Maloney was elected as Chair and Clint Bentz was elected as Vice Chair of the Council.
The meeting closed with a prayer led by the new chair, F.J. Maloney.
NEXT MEETING:
Saturday,
September 11, 2004
10am to 3pm
at the
(